Buying a Truck

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Originally Posted by ray1970

200,000 miles might not be excessive for that engine but keep in mind unless it was well maintained everything else on the truck may be in rough shape.

Also, just food for thought, but if the mileage is correct that means this truck was driven less than 10K miles per year. Diesels in general don?t like a lot of starts and stops and short trips where the engine doesn?t get up to operating temperature.

I?d be less worried about a five year old truck with that kind of mileage because at least you know most of it would be longer trips and highway miles.

Good luck.

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I'd agree with your assessment of diesel (or any ICE for that matter) not liking short runs. However, perhaps the 80/20 rule applies here as well with regards to age and mileage.

My 2004.5 has 68K on the clock. Very few "short" trips where it's not up to operating temp for some reasonable time. Most of the miles are minor road trips, probably 3/4 of that towing the camper. Only once has the truck been more than one or two states out. It's not a daily driver.

Oil changes twice a year (time not mileage), small problems get repaired quickly.

Recently, I installed an exhaust brake that helps warm things up quicker at idle too so my wait time for warmup is less. He also stays plugged into an automated outlet when it's going to be cold so the engine block heater runs. If I was ever looking to buy a truck, I'd try to find a similar use case.

No, it's not for sale. Probably gonna be buried in it.

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Originally Posted by Wulf202

I own the same truck in green. Without all the bolt on bullshit with about the same miles

I could tell you tons about it but it's so cheap it screams scam. There's tons in aftermarket parts I see. The power stroke badges are missing, notice the holes on the fender?. The truck has been repainted. If it's an early 99 engine it's worth much less. If it's got blowby in needs rebuilding. The interior on 99s are slightly different than. The other years, his dash looks a bit different from mine on the center console area. These trucks are hard on front end components and a lifted one is worse.

I've been seeing tons of ads in heavy equipment for sale where its half of what it should be price wise but when you contact them they can't meet because of some bs and you just need to send a check

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Found a cheap laptop on CL. When I asked about the Win10 activation. Crickets.

So if you're considering the 7.3 a few things I can add. there are no 98 7.3 trucks. 99 was the first year of superduty and is a transitional year, early 99 has the 97 motor and axle. My 99 has the 99 engine and 97 axle. the dash and rear seats in a 99 is slightly different than other years. There is also a non superduty 99 f250 gas truck, which is just an f150 with a few extra leafs. Overall I'm quite happy with my truck, coming from a small block chevy getting 8-14 i get 14-20 unless i'm towing heavy which can get into the single digits but I can plan around 10mpg with 14k on the highway. If you don't do your own oil changes, call you shop and ask the price. 19qts to change it if you drain the HPOP doesn't come cheap. I shopped around alot and found mine locally pre dented for about what the price above with 145k on it. Since then I've added a few dents, done a bunch of front end work and had a crazy ex key it.

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Originally Posted by brutal

Found a cheap laptop on CL. When I asked about the Win10 activation. Crickets.

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lol, Brutal :)

Your truck is probably the exception more than the rule, brutal.

And, I have a feeling if yours hit Craigslist it likely wouldn?t be priced at $8K.

I do agree with your post.

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Originally Posted by Wulf202

So if you're considering the 7.3 a few things I can add. there are no 98 7.3 trucks. 99 was the first year of superduty and is a transitional year, early 99 has the 97 motor and axle. My 99 has the 99 engine and 97 axle. the dash and rear seats in a 99 is slightly different than other years. There is also a non superduty 99 f250 gas truck, which is just an f150 with a few extra leafs. Overall I'm quite happy with my truck, coming from a small block chevy getting 8-14 i get 14-20 unless i'm towing heavy which can get into the single digits but I can plan around 10mpg with 14k on the highway. If you don't do your own oil changes, call you shop and ask the price. 19qts to change it if you drain the HPOP doesn't come cheap. I shopped around alot and found mine locally pre dented for about what the price above with 145k on it. Since then I've added a few dents, done a bunch of front end work and had a crazy ex key it.

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If the guy is good with his advertised truck, which I am thinking he is not, then I will double check your advice.

Thank you.

-John

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Originally Posted by brutal

I'd agree with your assessment of diesel (or any ICE for that matter) not liking short runs. However, perhaps the 80/20 rule applies here as well with regards to age and mileage.

My 2004.5 has 68K on the clock. Very few "short" trips where it's not up to operating temp for some reasonable time. Most of the miles are minor road trips, probably 3/4 of that towing the camper. Only once has the truck been more than one or two states out. It's not a daily driver.

Oil changes twice a year (time not mileage), small problems get repaired quickly.

Recently, I installed an exhaust brake that helps warm things up quicker at idle too so my wait time for warmup is less. He also stays plugged into an automated outlet when it's going to be cold so the engine block heater runs. If I was ever looking to buy a truck, I'd try to find a similar use case.

No, it's not for sale. Probably gonna be buried in it.

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I run mine as a daily, including tons of short trips. I only plug it in when it gets below 0. Or when my glow plug relay went out. The only thing short trips will cause is some fuel in your oil. I change mine more often than spec because of this during those periods. I've dealt with small problems for years. I've run both my 7.3 and my 12v back and forth across the country. I do try to start it and let it idle up to temp whenever possible, EGT guage to avoid shutdown and cooking a turbo.

To each their own.

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Originally Posted by brutal

He also stays plugged into an automated outlet when it's going to be cold so the engine block heater runs.

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My neighbor plugs in his gas truck when it drops below like 40 degrees and it drives me crazy.

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Originally Posted by Irving

My neighbor plugs in his gas truck when it drops below like 40 degrees and it drives me crazy.

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Mine fires with a robot based on outside temp.

I am thankful my car does not need to be plugged in.

Sounds like a pain in the ass.

-John